A typical conventional burial is in a cemetery that requires a graveliner or a vault or outer burial container (as cemetery policy, not as a legal requirement). Remains may be chemically embalmed or not. There are generally no rules for the casket material (it is not necessary for the casket to biodegrade). Landscaping may be resource intensive, include high water usage for non-native vegetation, and involve the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

Each year, in US cemeteries, we bury:

• Around 800,000 gallons of formaldehyde-based embalming fluid
• Around 1,000 tons of casket steel
• Around 200,000 tons of concrete in burial vaults
• Enough wood to build 40 homes.

Embalming is an invasive process involving draining the body of fluids at death, puncturing internal organs to pump in highly carcinogenic embalming fluid, dyes and other toxic products. Despite claims to the contrary, it is not a sanitary measure but allows for the temporary preservation of the deceased’s remains. Cooling of the body is an acceptable legal alternative. In the US, modern embalming began during the Civil War. Before that, natural deathcare was the norm. The Natural Funeral offers gentle, non-invasive care of your loved-one at death with Reverent Body Preparation.

The Natural Funeral will advise and or carry out natural Reverent Body Preparation. We provide a range of natural caskets and shrouds. We can request that the outer burial container or vault be upturned to allow for contact with the earth beneath.

You will select and purchase a plot directly with the cemetery. In addition to the cost of the plot, you will need to pay for the opening and closing of the grave, any grave liner or vault required, a monument (according to cemetery specifications) and a perpetual care fee for grave upkeep and landscaping.

Yes, but it depends where you live. You should check the zoning regulations in your county to determine what is possible. Colorado also has protocols and forms for burial on private land. Contact The Natural Funeral for information and advice.

Sometimes green burial is cheaper because you will not need to purchase a vault or an expensive casket, but the cost of the plot may vary. Some private cemeteries with green sections may sell green burial plots at a premium. Municipal cemeteries often offer green burial plots that are less expensive.

Green burial lends itself to direct and meaningful connection with your loved-one at death through graveside participation and ceremony. Families may sometimes act as pallbearers, or add small amounts of earth to the grave. What is allowed will depend on each cemetery’s regulations.

This will depend on the type of cemetery and the cemetery’s regulations. Some natural burial grounds may allow only flat, on-the-ground markers of natural material such as stone.

• Tree Burial
• Space Burial
• Aquamation
• Sky Burial
• Sea Burial
• Hanging Coffins
• Become a Coral Reef

A green burial is one way to contribute to sustainable living after death. They are so novel, they might also bring some new perspective on what it means to be "green" all the time. Besides being good for the environment, there are other benefits too. Some people find them more environmentally plausible than conventional burials - cremation or burial - both of which involve energy expenditure and release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Yes, natural burial is legal in all 50 states, but you should consult with a funeral director near you before making your final decision.

It doesn't require a casket because unlike traditional burial, which is an embalming process typically involving the use of formaldehyde, natural burial does not require this. A burial shroud or other biodegradable container may be used instead to decrease the cost of the funeral and protect groundwater quality.

The environmental impact of a traditional burial is significant. The average coffin weighs around 275 pounds, and for an adult, 250 cubic feet of soil are needed for the burial- that translates to 25 tons per acre or 10 acres for one person's disposition. An average of 4 gallons of embalming fluid is injected into corpses during a typical funeral service, rendering over 200 liters of wastewater, posing serious health risks to U.S. waterways. Not only does this practice create more pollution in form or wasted fluids, but improper disposal can lead to burial grounds becoming pools where water collects with no drainage system, which contaminates soil and groundwater systems.

Yes, green burials are less expensive than conventional ones. This is largely due to the ecological burial process which is accomplished by returning the body to mother earth in a biodegradable natural cotton or wool shroud.  Green burials are not only cheaper but are better for the environment as they don't produce carbon emissions during cremation, use plenty of organic fragrance-free fibers in caskets and shrouds made from forest-grown trees and plants, and provide a roomy area for all members of society regardless of religion or finances.

The Green Burial Council is a nonprofit educational organization, which promotes environmentally sound burial practices. It is dedicated to establishing trust and confidence in the green burial movement by providing its members with the resources, best practices, training, environmental advocacy, and fostering an ethical community devoted to green funeral rites.

Home burial is the act of burying a person at his or her own home. If you have access to your backyard, then you can bury someone there. Some choose to plant a tree over it for beautification purposes, while others just love the peace that comes from being on one's land.  Home burial is appropriate for private land with no local zoning restrictions, which means it is allowed in all but Arkansas. All other United States states allow for home burials, and there are no restrictions on location and depth of grave so long as they observe appropriate health and sanitary requirements.

It is technically possible to be buried on your own property, but laws regulate where individuals can be interred. The law in many states says that if the property has not been zoned for anything except burial, then someone could be buried on their privately owned property. However, burial laws are constantly changing, so it is best to check with an attorney or research your state's laws.